Various types of rustic cakes such as ‘banh ram it’ (a type of dumpling with a crispy attachment), ‘banh nam’ (rice dumpling wrapped in banana leaf), ‘banh loc’ (steamed clear tapioca cakes in banana leaves), and ‘banh beo’ (Vietnamese bloating fern-shaped cake attachment) are served as a buffet at the Ma Restaurant located at 490 Me Thu, Hoa Chau Commune, Hoa Vang District, bringing customers a unique and attractive experience of hometown cuisine.

Space for ‘banh uot heo quay’ (wet rice cake with roast pork) at the Ma Restaurant. Photo: H.L

The restaurant space is quite rustic with wooden tables and chairs, bamboo trays lined with green banana leaves, and warm light from bamboo lanterns. Each dish is carefully prepared and beautifully presented, making diners excited when choosing.

The buffet here brings a sense of closeness with many traditional cakes such as ‘banh beo’ (Vietnamese bloating fern-shaped cake), ‘banh ram it’ (a type of dumpling with a crispy attachment), and ‘banh xu xe’ (glutinous coconut cakes with mung-bean paste), creating a familiar harmonious flavour.

You will be delighted with a plate of ‘banh loc’ with bright red shrimp filling, or pieces of ‘banh beo’ lying neatly in a bowl covered with a layer of shrimp floss and fragrant fried onions.

Meanwhile, ‘banh ram it’ is a dish that combines the crispiness of the outer layer of ‘ram’ and the softness of the sticky rice flour inside. Here, each dish at the buffet seems to tell a separate story associated with the childhood memories of many people and generations.

One of the highlights at the Ma buffet is a fragrant and soft dish of “banh duc” (Vietnamese salted rice flour cake) made from brown rice, the unique snail sausage or the hot tofu dish served with ginger sugar water.

The dipping sauces here are quite diverse, from fish sauce for ‘banh duc’, chili and garlic fish sauce for ‘banh uot heo quay’ (wet rice cake with roast pork), and dipping sauce for ‘banh loc’.

In addition, customers can also enjoy some snacks such as ‘khoai lang ken’ (fried sweet potato balls), banana sweet soup, and red bean sweet soup.

What makes this buffet special is the meticulous and delicate presentation of the dishes. The aroma of rustic cakes brings a familiar feeling of a hometown meal, in which each dish is a part of a gentle and beautiful memory.

Reporting by HUYNH LE - Translating by M.DUNG